19 Year Old Mayor, Rice Lake WI

Bill Hudson
RICE LAKE, Wis. (WCCO) ― Quinn, who served one year on the Rice Lake City Council before being elected mayor on Tuesday, said, "Age, I don't think, necessarily makes a difference, I mean, it's about the issues."

A young man wearing a Hollister T-shirt, shorts and sandals picked up election signs Wednesday in Rice Lake, Wis. The 19-year-old wasn't a campaign volunteer. Romaine Quinn is the new mayor.

Quinn, who served one year on the Rice Lake City Council before being elected mayor on Tuesday, said, "Age, I don't think, necessarily makes a difference, I mean, it's about the issues."

Judging by the talk at Maxine's restaurant, he might be right.

"Apparently, a lot of people wanted change," said 78-year-old Del Hanson, who voted for Quinn.

A couple seats down the counter, Richard Cerminar wished he could have cast a ballot for the young candidate.

"From what I understand, an extremely nice young man," said Cerminar, who lives just outside Rice Lake proper.

Cerminar thinks Romaine's big win had a lot to do with what happened on Manwaring Avenue and other roads around town.

"They cut down trees that were 40 and 50 years old and put in sidewalks nobody needed or wanted," he said.

"They just didn't listen," said George Erickson. "Basically everybody on this street didn't want a sidewalk."

The "improvements" being made by the city are effectively taking away half of Erickson's front yard.

It doesn't help that the project got started late last fall and is still ongoing.

JoAnn Erickson said her front yard has been a muddy mess much of the past several months.

The Ericksons and their neighbors filled the council chambers to protest plans to put in sidewalks.

"The council wouldn't listen, but Romaine was one that said, 'I think we should listen to the people,' and no, they wouldn't," Joann recalled.

"People want someone who's proud to serve as mayor, but still humble enough to realize he's no better than anyone else in town," said Quinn, who takes political science classes at the University of Wisconsin-Barron County.

He cites Ron Paul, the libertarian-leaning Republican congressman from Texas, as his political role model.

The Ericksons voted for a young mayor once before. JoAnn said that was a "disaster."

She's not worried about Quinn's fitness for the job or his age.

"Doesn't matter. He's got a head on his shoulders," said JoAnn. "He'll do fine. I'm sure he'll do fine. It'll surprise me if he doesn't."

During his campaign, Quinn told voters he wants to hold the line on taxes, replace the city administrator and, of course, reconsider plans to put sidewalks all over Rice Lake.

He beat incumbent mayor Dan Fitzgerald with 53 percent of the vote.

Paula Engelking, Producer

http://wcco.com/local/19.year.old.2.1620097.html

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Mayor
• Rice Lake
• WI
• Romaine Quinn
• Ron Paul

[uncleardegree]

Awesome! We Need More people who respect the Basic Principles!

[Kras3169]

His political role model is Ron Paul...this kid will probably do a better job than any mayor they have ever had! Great story, and glad he has the sense to be a Ron Paul supporter. Just awesome! The Ron Paul Revolution continues!!! =)

[johnidavey]

hell yeah! Romaine Quinn for the win.

[GFORCEpackattack]

@Salemsprime that just proves how fucked and shitty politicians are that there gonna elect a 19 year old just for kicks i know id vote for him n I FUCKIN HATE LIBERALS but at his age im sure he has way les crap to spew on people then all the other 40 year old canidates who drive out of town ever chance they get to cheat on there wife with some stripper a county over then come back and talk about this town was built on morals and values

[AAAV92]

Don't make me laugh, if he idolizes Ron Paul so much why is he putting camera's on the street lights? Doesn't sound very libertarian to me.

[datiq]

Is this for Real?

[mosbratrud16]

It's hilarious how they elected a nineteen-year-old and then all the people they interview are past 75.

[Salemsprime]

YAY MY CUZIn IS FAMOUS!

[NikkiSerB]

Niceee